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NEET levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 1 of 3ap250

The sodium salt shown is heated with at about 400 K and 4-7 atm, and the product is then acidified. Which structure is formed (Kolbe-Schmitt reaction)?

  1. AStructure A
  2. BStructure B
  3. CStructure C
  4. DStructure D

Answer: B

The salt is sodium phenoxide. The phenoxide ring attacks electrophilically, mainly at the ortho position under these conditions. Acidification gives 2-hydroxybenzoic (salicylic) acid; the aldehyde is the Reimer-Tiemann product.
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